| West Beef River Lutheran Church Built 1915 |
| This is the "Brick Church". It was built in 1915. This is the second Lutheran Church built in Strum, it followed the building of the "White Church" on the north side of the river. This church ultimately outlasted the White Church through the church merger. The White Church was wood structure and old. This one, built of bricks, was in better condition at the time of merger. This structure still stands as Immanuel Lutheran Church. Same congregation, same families, but now, one church organization. There is now a Sunday School, Chapel, and Eating area addition to the right and back and the main entry to the church is on the right (south) side, but the basic church structure remains. The cemetery for this church is located southeast of Strum at what was an earlier location for the West Beef River Church before coming to Strum. Today, some members of Immanuel are buried in the WBR Cemetery, some in the White Church Cemetery. I believe the choice probably fairly well depends on family membership prior to the merger. It must be an interesting choice when one child of the former White Church marries a child of the former West Beef River Church. Cemetery associations have not merged. Each cemetery operates as a separate association. Just inside the front door and to the right are the steps to the balcony. When kids aged, most sat in the balcony, unless, of course, you were in the choir. The bells ropes hung down just at the top of the balcony stairs and the custodian always sat in the first seats near the bells. Their job was to ring the bell at the "right time". There were many such custodians, but I remember Ole and Spencer Bredison the most. Which reminds me of a story. One winter morning while I was working at Robbe's store, Ole parked his pick-up truck out front and came inside to get fresh chew. While inside, a kid came running into the store hollaring to Ole, "your truck is on fire!" "Your truck is on fire1" While at the same time making sure he got his new can of snoose, Ole hollared back to the little kid in his very strong Norwegian brogue, "Puut it ouut! Puut it ouut!" We all laughed. As it turns out the truck was not on fire but the radiator was boiling over at will. Perhaps this event helps me recall Ole as one of the custodians at our church. This picture is taken from Strum's main street looking east. The downtown area extends to the right along the street. updated 24 January 2003 Fred Matson |
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